As the days passed, the day for the empress's investiture finally arrived.
The previous dynasty.
The Fourth Prince, accompanied by civil and military officials, went to the Fengxian Hall to offer sacrifices and read aloud the imperial edict appointing Niohuru Lanqin as the Vice Empress to his ancestors. Afterwards, the Fourth Prince dispatched two envoys, one principal and one deputy, to the inner palace with the edict appointing the Vice Empress. A grand investiture ceremony was held, announcing Lanqin's appointment as Vice Empress. The golden seal and golden book bestowed upon Lanqin were handed over to the special envoy, who was then ordered to deliver the golden seal and golden book to Changchun Palace.
The imperial harem.
That day, Changchun Palace was bustling with activity from early morning. Lanqin was woken up early, and several palace maids excitedly helped her dress up. The Empress's wedding attire was already laid out to the side. Lanqin gazed at herself in the bronze mirror and couldn't help but sigh. Time waits for no one. When she got married, she was just a teenage princess, and now, more than twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye, and she was already a mother of several children.
Such a grand ceremony couldn't be complete without the concubines of the harem. The concubines all arrived at Changchun Palace early to witness the ceremony, and Ushiha and Bechuk also brought their children into the palace. For a time, Changchun Palace was bustling with activity.
Lanqin was helped by palace maids to put on a ceremonial robe similar to that of the Empress. The pearls on her crown were very ornate. Dressed in a ceremonial robe embroidered with four-clawed dragons, Lanqin sat upright in the main hall of Changchun Palace. Everyone around stood around whispering, not daring to approach Lanqin to speak.
The imperial officials meticulously calculated the auspicious time and reported it immediately upon its arrival. The Fourth Prince ordered two officials from the Ministry of Rites, the chief and deputy chief, to go to Changchun Palace with the golden book and seal to conduct the investiture ceremony.
In Changchun Palace, Lanqin waited until the eunuch sent by the Fourth Prince announced the decree before kneeling down to receive it, supported by Cui Niang. Everyone else knelt down to await the reading of the Fourth Prince's decree. As Lanqin knelt, she thought of her previous life. Now she was completely Niohuru Lanqin, and she wondered if her future path would be as smooth as that of the Niohuru clan.
After the investiture ceremony was completed, in order to show his intention to "marry" Lanqin, the Fourth Prince specially arranged a "wedding" ceremony for Lanqin.
After the investiture ceremony concluded, Lanqin, escorted by her two wives, eight maids, and palace servants, left Changchun Palace, her phoenix palanquin waiting outside. Lanqin held an apple in each hand, symbolizing "peace and safety." The apple was then taken by the prince's wife, who then presented Lanqin with a precious vase containing pearls, precious stones, gold and silver ruyi scepters, and grains. Lanqin carefully held the vase, symbolizing "good fortune and auspiciousness," before boarding her phoenix palanquin and heading towards Kunning Palace.
When Lanqin entered the hall, a vermilion saddle was placed across the entrance, with the two apples she had received from Lanqin on the ground, and a red carpet covering the surface. Guided by six pairs of Tibetan incense burners, Lanqin stepped over the apple-shaped saddle inscribed with "Peace and Safety" and was led to stand at the west end to await the offering of prayers.
The Fourth Prince had timed it perfectly. Just as Lanqin took her place, he came out of Kunning Palace and stood facing her on the east side. Amidst the celebratory drums and music, they bowed together, performing the nine-kowtow ceremony, thus becoming "bound together."
After the earth-worship ceremony, according to custom, the Fourth Prince and Lanqin were supposed to perform the bedchamber ritual in the East Warm Pavilion of Kunning Palace, eating dumplings called "offspring dumplings" cooked by the Princess Consort of Prince Li. These dumplings had to be taken out of the pot as soon as they were cooked and presented to the Emperor and Empress. The dumplings were still raw and could not be eaten; one bite was taken and the dumpling was spat out and hidden under the bedding, so that they could "give birth" to a prince as soon as possible. However, since Lanqin was not the Empress Consort and was already pregnant, this was omitted.
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